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Aug 2009

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137

Originally Posted by Dee Dub

Are you guys kidding me? Ryan Clark didn't say anything that wasn't true. In fact, here is a fun game. Replace Tom Brady's name with any other QB in football and tell me that quote doesn't apply. Here, try it....

"When ___________ gets pressure and when you're man-to-man and bumping those guys and making it hard for him to throw, he sees ghosts," Clark said, via CSNNE.com. "Even when guys aren't around him, even when he's not about to be sacked, when his clock goes off in his head that the ball should be out, we'll see him duck, we'll see him flinch. When you get _____________ doing that, the whole ____________ mystique goes away."

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As for Mad Libs, you could put our #7 in there, and it doesn't apply. For better or worse, Ben does not see ghosts or flinch.

Some do, some don't. There's quite a few QBs that will stand there and take a shot to make a play without flinching. But then some of the more prominent QBs like Brady and Peyton are the worst offenders.

That was my first reaction to Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark's remarks that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady sometimes "sees ghosts" in the pocket. I've watched games in person where Brady ducks, flinches or slides away from phantom pressure in the pocket. At 35, it happens more and more at the latter stages of Brady's career.

"In 2010, we saw it start with the Jets in the playoffs," Clark explained on ESPN's "NFL Live" this week. “When Tom Brady gets pressure and when you're man-to-man and bumping those guys and making it hard for him to throw, he sees ghosts.

"Even when guys aren't around him, even when he's not about to be sacked, when his clock goes off in his head that the ball should be out, we'll see him duck, we'll see him flinch. When you get Tom Brady doing that, the whole New England Patriots mystique goes away."

The statistics also back Clark's analysis.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, Brady’s completion percentage drops from 68.2 percent to 42.3 percent when he holds onto the ball three seconds or longer. New England is very much a timing and rhythm offense. As Clark mentioned, opponents increase their chances of success by throwing off Brady's timing with his receivers. Brady’s Total Quarterback Rating also falls from a stellar 81.1 to an average 59.7 when he holds the ball three seconds or longer.

You cannot fault Brady for wanting to avoid big hits. Brady has been sacked 59 times the past two seasons, and each year those hits become harder to take. Brady, who just signed a contract extension through 2017, wants to play until he's 40. The only way he accomplishes that goal is by avoiding clean hits in the pocket.

The blueprint is out there to beat Brady. Teams like the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants have consistently beaten New England doing many of the things Clark explained. However, it's much easier said than done for most teams.

Clark and the Steelers will get their chance to make Brady see "ghosts" this upcoming season when Pittsburgh travels to Gillette Stadium to face Brady and the Patriots on November 3.

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Sep 2009

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Los Angeles, CA

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725

What do you sissies want him to say?? nothing? He backs up his play... He didn't say anything that wasn't true.. How do u think they liked it leading up to the last time they played and brady snickers in the locker room "Don't worry, I got them"...

screw that DOUCHE.. I'm sick of hearing about the CHEATS* when the STEELERS have won 2 SB's since they have last won one..

Eff em'.. I know this game is gona be most likely the toughest to win this season.. BRING IT..

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May 2008

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13,879

Originally Posted by thor75

Boy, he's on a roll today. Calling Polamalu the 3rd best safety. It may be true or not true, but calling out his injuries etc seems a bit harsh for a teammate, let alone not promoting him as the best, even if he thinks he may not be. Just doesn't seem like good locker room etiquette, what do you think?

Is being completely disingenuous considered good etiquette these days?

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Mar 2008

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Originally Posted by Dee Dub

Are you guys kidding me? Ryan Clark didn't say anything that wasn't true. In fact, here is a fun game. Replace Tom Brady's name with any other QB in football and tell me that quote doesn't apply. Here, try it....

"When ___________ gets pressure and when you're man-to-man and bumping those guys and making it hard for him to throw, he sees ghosts," Clark said, via CSNNE.com. "Even when guys aren't around him, even when he's not about to be sacked, when his clock goes off in his head that the ball should be out, we'll see him duck, we'll see him flinch. When you get _____________ doing that, the whole ____________ mystique goes away."

The difference is that any other quarterback probably can't go out on the field and actually shut him up by kicking his a$$ by making plays (Rogers maybe, Brees maybe, that's about it). Ryan Clark isn't in the same zip code talentwise as Tom Brady. Why agitate him and give him a reason to kick your a$$ and enjoy doing it?

Pappy

The referee said that you hit Brian Sipe too hard. Did you hit him too hard?
I hit him as hard as I could - Jack Lambert

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Dec 2008

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Originally Posted by papillon

The difference is that any other quarterback probably can't go out on the field and actually shut him up by kicking his a$$ by making plays (Rogers maybe, Brees maybe, that's about it). Ryan Clark isn't in the same zip code talentwise as Tom Brady. Why agitate him and give him a reason to kick your a$$ and enjoy doing it?

Pappy

Given Brady's a competitor, I can see him now thinking I'll take a shot just to shut him up. And maybe that was Clark doing some reverse psychology right there.

Plus he called out Troy for not being the best at the same time. Maybe again, Clark is doing some reverse psych on his calf. Afterall, we're gonna need Troy to cover up for Ryan's mouth now.

Hopefully for Ryan's sake, the ghost this year in Foxboro is Wood, World, or Jarvy.